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Launch price (RRP) | $99 |
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Launch date | 2019-11 |
While 2019 has seen a lot of hype around foldable phones, we've actually only seen one hit the market in the form of the wallet-busting Samsung Galaxy Fold.
The Aspera F40 has a folding mechanism, but in price terms, it couldn't be much further from the Galaxy Fold, unless it was actually free. It's a flip feature phone, a relative rarity in 2019, which puts it more in direct competition with handsets such as the Nokia 2720 Flip, albeit at a lower price point.
Like Aspera's Jazz 2, the Aspera F40 can be yours for just $99 outright, which puts it into the deliberately super-budget category. If it's a phone form factor that appeals to you, that might sound like a bargain.
I'm very much not the target market for this particular type of phone, so for the purposes of this review, I've also grabbed the assistance of my own mother, who quite independently of this review purchased an Aspera F40 for her own telecommunications purposes.
She sits well within the assumed target market for this kind of phone – older Australians who don't want a smartphone but recognise the value in having a simple device for calling, texting and other rudimentary functions.
There simply aren't that many flip phones on the market, and the chances are good that if you're considering the Aspera F40 it's because it's a form factor that appeals to you.
It's certainly not overpriced, and the overall experience does reflect that. If you're looking for a more complete smartphone-style experience, there are plenty of alternatives on offer, but within its niche, the Aspera F40 is a fair device, if not exactly an exciting one.
It is worth considering your alternatives, however. The Nokia 2720 Flip is a somewhat better built flip phone, albeit a slightly more expensive option. The Aspera F40 also manages to come in a little cheaper than Telstra's own in-house Telstra Flip 2 handset, but again, it'd be smart to check around for deals on price for either of those handsets.